(Copyright 1999. All rights reserved.)

The
Tattoo

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Making a Permanent Impression Since 1994 ---

April 5, 1999

'Gypsy' setting up camp at BEHS

By HILA YOSAFI
The Tatttoo
A talented cast and crew at Bristol Eastern High
School is working hard to present "Gypsy" this spring.
One of the stars of the musical, senior Mike Santoro,
said, "With anyone’s plays, Eastern or Central, you
can go even if you’re not excited about it in the
beginning, it will just blow you away. There’s just so
much talent."
Ken Ferris, head of the music department and director
of the musical said, "We were going to choose 'Guys
and Dolls' because we had the people who could
handle the leads," but there were only two female
roles in that play.
Ferris said they chose "Gypsy" because they wanted a
play that had a lot of females in the cast and they
wanted to use all the musical talent Eastern had to
offer.
The musical takes place in the 1920s and '30s and is
based on the life of Gypsy Rose Lee.
The leads are Rose, the mother, played by senior
Jessica Zarrella; Herbie, Rose's boyfriend, played by
Santoro; June, Rose's daughter, played by junior April
Street; and Louise, Rose's other daughter, played by
senior Sarah Divenere. All performed in major roles in
Eastern's musical "South Pacific" last spring.
The production even has a costume that lights up. It's
worn by junior Carolyn Choi, who plays Electra.
Out of 73 students who auditioned, 37 make up the
cast.
Street said performing in Eastern's musicals "is a good
learning experience."
In "Gypsy," Rose drives her two daughters into "Uncle
Jocko’s Kiddies Show," and she pushes one so much
that she becomes a stripper! (Sorry, guys, she doesn’t
really strip.)
Meanwhile, Herbie, who is the manager of the dance
troupe, tries to get Rose to marry him.
Of course, there is plenty of singing and dancing.
Some catchy numbers include "Together Wherever We
Go," "Let Me Entertain You," "You’ll Never Get
Away From Me," and "Everything's Coming Up
Roses."
Divenere said rehearsing is "a lot of fun but it’s a lot
of work."
"Gypsy" was first performed on Broadway more than
four decades ago. It features music by Jule Styne and
lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It was originally directed
and choreographed by Jerome Robbins.
"Gypsy" will be shown at Eastern's auditorium at 7
p.m. on Friday, May 7 and Saturday, May 8, and at 2
p.m., Sunday, May 9. All seats are reserved
Adult tickets are $10, student and senior citizen tickets
are $7. Reserve a seat soon by calling 584-7860.